by Judith Lucci
Martin considered her questions for a moment, and knew he had to placate Alex and Elizabeth without scaring them. A look at Alex's face in his rear view mirror alerted him she was unhappy. "I don't rightly know, but I guess that she fed it to a snake. Course, if the snake ate it, then there wouldn't be no bones, would there? So I guess I really don’t know. "
Alex had enough. She was livid. “Stop it Martin. This is crap. No more of this. I am sick of voodoo stories. Just get us there."
Elizabeth was surprised at Alex’s angry reaction and gave her a sideways glance. Martin looked hurt and no one spoke until the cab pulled up in front of the voodoo museum. Elizabeth attempted some feeble chatter with Martin to try to ease his obviously hurt feelings. Martin was responding in monosyllables, still stinging from Alex's criticism.
Alex was feeling guilty about her outburst.
"Want me to wait, Alex?" Martin asked as the two women exited the cab. "Be glad to."
"Would you, Martin? I'm really sorry I was so abrupt. Will you forgive me?" Alex said meekly.
Martin didn’t respond. "I'll be back shortly. I may have to move the cab. Take care. Don't get in no trouble. Museum's about a half a block down." Martin smiled weakly as he pulled from the curb.
It was just turning dark as Alex and Elizabeth walked the half block to the museum. Hordes of tourists, some costumed and some obviously drunk passed the women. A juggler had attracted a large crowd of people. Typical French Quarter partying, thought Alex as they were walking down the block. If this keeps up, Fat Tuesday will be sensational, no matter what the Governor said, or his minister or secretary of tourism or whatever he was.
"Business looks good. The streets are packed," Elizabeth noted wryly. "Doesn't look like the voodoo scare has decreased tourism. Maybe you ought to go call the Governor and ask him to come with us." Alex nodded in agreement, as they stopped outside the museum.
It was located in an old building on the south side of Dumaine. The museum was long and deep, as were most buildings in the Quarter. As Elizabeth and Alex entered the museum, both were humbled by what they saw inside. The museum was narrow and eerie, an effect increased by the candles burning throughout the building. It also smelled of decay, sort of like burning hair and mold. Various accoutrements of evil hung on the walls. There were half-burned skeletons, animal heads, stuffed snakes, effigies of humans, animals and other items neither Alex nor Liz recognized.
Against one wall were frightening instruments that could easily be instruments of torture. Alex had no idea. Glass cases lined the other walls and were filled with various charms and magical powders. Alex saw love powder and boss-fixing powder, but no black war powder.
Although the atmosphere was ominous, it wasn't nearly as threatening as the figure in the very back of the room. Dressed completely in black, she slowly turned to face the women. Elizabeth grabbed Alex's arm and dug her nails into her wrist.
Alex was also unnerved and took several seconds to pull herself together. Then, using all her strength, she pushed Elizabeth toward the figure in the back of the room. Surreal, morbid thoughts raced through Alex’s brain. This is much worse than I had expected. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. What have I gotten myself into? My grandfather would disown me if he knew I’d done this. How stupid I am. Maybe my judgment is crappy.
Alex and Elizabeth continued to walk very slowly and make their way to the darkly clad woman. Alex doubted she'd be able to talk to her. Her tongue felt thick, furry, and paralyzed. Her mouth was dry. She seemed to have lost all the saliva in her mouth. The walk seemed endless. As they got closer, Alex saw that it was her appearance that made her so frightening. Her face was dead white and was surrounded by a halo of long, black hair. Her lips were also black. She stroked an orange and white striped snake as it wriggled between her fingers. She continued to stroke the snake as she watched Alex and Elizabeth approach. Alex was transfixed by the darting tongue of the snake, although the woman's face and countenance didn't change. A CD of drum music made it even spookier. The woman did not blink her eyes or stop staring at the faces of the two intruders. She doesn't look happy to see us, thought Alex. Doesn’t this person ever blink? Everyone blinks at some point. Alex could feel her heart jumping.
Finally, Alex and Elizabeth faced the woman and stood in front of the counter. None of them spoke. The women just looked at each other. Alex could hear the pounding of each of her body pulses. Elizabeth was immobile, obviously paralyzed with fear. After a silence that seemed like a century, Alex finally spoke. "My name's Alexandra,” Alex began, surprised at the strength of her voice.
"I know who you are," the woman responded.
Her voice was low and soft, but hollow. The voice didn't sound real. It sounds like a robot, Alex thought. Disembodied.
"I know why you're here, and I've been waiting for you. I knew you would come." The woman's voice was eerie, it seemed to come from somewhere else.
"Then you must know what I want. Will it stop?" Alex marveled at the strength in her voice.
"I don't know. It's not up to me. It is not my curse." The woman continued to stare at them without blinking, her face white and translucent.
Alex could see pale blue blood vessels in the woman’s neck and her lower face but she didn’t believe she had blood in them. She looks like a corpse.
Geez, Alex thought. Maybe she is dead and all of this is voice activated or something. I wonder if she feels as cold as she looks. Alex nearly jumped out of her skin when a black cat jumped on the counter from a nearby shelf. "Who's it up to? Who can remove the curse?" Alex challenged. Once again, the movements of the snake mesmerized her. It's looking right at me. Her heart was beating so hard she was convinced it would burst through her chest wall.
The woman made no comment but started to hum, and continued to stroke her snake. The sound of her humming was like nothing Alex had ever heard. It unnerved her.
Alex spoke again, feeling a little braver, "What can I do to stop it? Many good people have been hurt. It must stop!"
"It is not in my power to alter things. It is not my curse."
"Then where can I go? Who can take the curse away? Who can I talk to? You must know something else," Alex continued breathlessly, her body beginning to tremble in fear and frustration.
The woman continued to stroke both the cat and the snake for a few moments and said, "Go to the feast tomorrow, at midnight near the old Spanish fort by Bayou St. John."
The woman turned her back to them and placed her cat and snake behind the counter. The cat meowed in protest.
Alex and Elizabeth continued to stand at the counter until the woman turned around and said, “Leave this place. Be gone, now. Don't return here, ever!" The woman left the counter and disappeared into the back room of the museum.
Alex was about to follow the woman into the back room to get more information when Elizabeth suddenly seemed to wake up.
She pulled Alex by the arm and said, "Let's get the hell out of here. Move! This place gives me the creeps."
Alex didn't argue. Outside the museum, her heart sank when she didn’t see Martin’s cab, and it was pitch black. She felt as though a dozen pairs of eyes were following her and staring through her, and she was scared to death.
As they stood helplessly on the curb, the partying people around them took on an ominous, evil look. Even the jazz music thumped to the devil's tempo. Grotesque Mardi Gras masques leered at Alex. Their features were hideous and she was terribly frightened. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a mean-looking man with a long ponytail coming toward her. He was about to touch her when Martin's big white cab pulled up to the curb. Alex and Elizabeth jumped in, just narrowly evading the grasp of the ponytailed stranger. Martin’s cab felt like a safe oasis, a place where her heartbeat and breathing could return to normal.
Alex felt mentally and physically exhausted and she was numb all over. Her heart was racing and felt irregular. Very little conversation passed back and forth, as each was caug
ht up in their personal thoughts. Even Martin was quiet for a change.
"Where can I take you ladies"? Martin ventured.
Alex checked her watch. It was seven but she felt like it was midnight. "Can you drop us at Copeland's on the Avenue? I think we both need a good stiff drink. That place was really something, Martin. It was eerie, spooky. I hope the woman who works there makes a good salary. She’s pretty good, plays her part well."
Elizabeth stared at Alex. "I think she's a witch, no question. I also think she's involved with voodoo. I understand why everyone's so afraid of this stuff. Scared the hell out of me. I can hardly believe what I just saw!"
Alex's voice was sharp and she replied hotly. "Get over it! She's dressed up like Halloween. She's not a witch just because she had on white face powder and black lipstick. She's playing a part. Her job is to sell all that stuff in the museum’s store." Alex's tone was condescending.
Elizabeth responded hotly, "Get real, Alex! Face it! You were just as scared as I was. Now I understand what we are dealing with better and you should too. How do you account for the fact that she knew who you were and what you wanted?" Elizabeth's pupils were wide and dilated, and her eyes were as defiant as her voice.
Alex squeezed Elizabeth's knee. "Shut up," she hissed under her breath. More loudly, she said, "Let's talk about this over a drink. Martin, the traffic is lighter now. Can you hurry?"
"I still say she's a witch," Elizabeth retorted, not to be so abruptly silenced. “And, stop telling me what to do, Alex. You’re pissing me off. I’ve had enough of your attitude.”
"She's a witch. That she is; that she is. Don’t mess with her," Martin replied as he pulled his cab in front of Copeland's restaurant. "See you gals later. Have a pleasant evening." Martin's voice was tense and his words were short. He'd made his point.
Alex tried to apologize. "Martin, sorry I am in such a bad mood. I guess I am just tired. I’ve been so stressed over the stuff at CCMC. Forgive me?" she asked as she prepared to close the cab door.
"Sure, just be careful," he admonished before he drove off.
An uneasy silence followed as Alex and Elizabeth entered the restaurant. After being seated and quickly consuming their first drink, white wine for Alex and a bloody Mary for Elizabeth, both women had visibly relaxed. The atmosphere of Copeland's was a welcome relief after the museum. Alex glanced around at the happy couples and families enjoying dinner, once again assured that life was good and normal.
She began the conversation. "Liz, sorry I’m such a bitch and sorry I was cross with you. I don't know exactly what happened in there. I wanted us to talk about this alone before we got too emotionally involved." Alex hesitated, as she surveyed her friend's body language. "Let's talk about it. Can we?"
"What the hell. I need another drink. I don't know what to think," Elizabeth began. "I didn't believe any of this before tonight. I thought all of these people were superstitious crackpots and ignorant assholes, but now... I just don't know. There was a lot of power in that place and it was evil. Something very ugly and threatening is connected with this. That witch knows, and somehow she's involved. Who told her we were coming? Nobody knew but Martin? You tell anybody we were going there 'cause I sure as hell didn't? We didn't even know about it 'til this morning." Elizabeth nervously tapped her fingers on the table as she sipped her drink.
Alex looked at Liz and watched as many emotions flickered over her face.
Liz continued, “I went there on a lark, thought it might be fun. Didn't expect to learn anything. I just planned to buy a book or something to help me understand voodoo better. Believe me, now I don't even want a book. I don't want to know anything else about it, or even to talk about it. I also believe that there is a curse against CCMC and I also believe that part about being vulnerable if you accept the curse."
Alex carefully considered Elizabeth's remarks before she answered. Her voice was uncertain. "I don't know. I don't know the answer to any of this. I think the woman, witch, whatever she is, is only peripherally involved. I don't think she really knows anything."
Elizabeth's voice was impatient. "Get real Alex! Lose the denial! She sure as hell knows something. Somebody's been talking to her. What about going to that feast, or whatever it is, on the lake? Surely, you aren't going to go. Are you?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at Alex, studying her responses.
Elizabeth watched her friend's face and became alarmed. "Don't even consider it. It's crazy, absolutely crazy to expose yourself to anymore of this nastiness. We're dealing with a lot of stuff we know nothing about. These people are probably mentally ill. Black magic, curses, magic powders. People who are native to New Orleans know about this stuff and stay away from it. Don’t forget the behavior of our board members. Several of them were scared shitless. We, the hospital, and most specifically you, should do the same."
Alex pondered Elizabeth's comments for several moments. "Don't you see, Elizabeth? Fear's the Voodoos greatest weapon. It's just like I said to the Governor this morning. If we give up, it's like letting the evil, the Voodoos, the witches and warlocks, and black magic win. That’s bullshit. We've got to take the next step and confront this stuff head on." Alex's voice was firm with resolve.
"Promise you won't go to the feast. It's dangerous... I know it. I can feel it. Someone may grab you or you could be hurt or killed and never be found."
"I promise I'll take a large, strong man for protection," Alex smiled at her friend. Alex was relieved that she and Liz had returned to their old banter, and that their friendship was back to normal.
Alex checked her watch. “I have a date with Mitch. I have to go in a couple of minutes.”
"Mitch Landry? He’s so hot! I might even go to a black magic feast with him. Are you sleeping with him yet?" Elizabeth looked coyly at Alex.
Alex shook her head. "Nope, it hasn’t gotten that far. Hasn't asked me to."
"What! He needs to ask you?” Liz’s raised eyebrows conveyed her disbelief. “I'd have jumped his bones a dozen times by now." Both women laughed and paused to order a third round of drinks.
Elizabeth continued, "Ready for the Extravaganza? It's only a few days away. Did you get your dress from Yvonne? I can't wait to see it." Elizabeth rambled, obviously happy to be talking about more pleasant things.
Alex shook her head negatively. "I haven't even thought about the ball for days. Last week it was the most important thing in my life. I would go to sleep at night dreaming about the ball and a weekend with Mitch. Do you realize our entire lives have been turned upside down in less than four days? And, to answer your question, no, I'll get my gown from Yvonne tomorrow. I'm so excited about it. Speaking of Mitch, I've got to call him. We have a dinner date later and I need to find out where to meet him. He won't want to come here. Thinks these places are too commercial and considers Copeland’s and Shoney’s equal in their cuisine. He likes the off-the-beaten-tracks restaurants more. By the way, you're welcome to join us, but only if you promise not to horn in," Alex offered and smiled at her friend.
"Can't promise I wouldn't, so I'd better not." Elizabeth smiled mischievously. "You need a break from me and CCMC, and I need a break from you. Do you realize that the voodoo museum trip actually made me mad at you? But, I will have another drink and then take a cab home."
Alex removed her cell from her purse and looked around Copland’s searching for a quiet area to make her call to Mitch.
Elizabeth mulled over the events of the day. The alcohol was working on her and her thoughts were a bit jumbled. In her heart, Elizabeth knew the voodoo woman was involved in the events at CCMC. I know she knows a lot more than she was saying, Elizabeth thought. I'd give a week’s pay to know exactly what, she mused as she studied the ice cubes in her drink. Then she remembered the morning meeting and the possibility of closing the hospital. Whoops, I’d better keep my money. I may not have a job in two weeks. That thought terrified her. Public relations jobs were hard to find in the current economy. She'd been lucky to find her job at CC
MC. Gosh, I'd hate to lose it. Elizabeth continued to have fleeting thoughts of unemployment that terrified her. She was deep in thought when Alex returned.
"A penny for your thoughts, Liz." Alex was much happier upon returning to the table. She had a faint blush to her cheeks.
"I'll need all the pennies I can get my hands on if the Governor closes the hospital. I'm really scared, Alex. Do you realize that we may be unemployed in several weeks? That possibility just crossed my mind. I've saved a lot, but I can't be unemployed for very long."
"It's not going to come to that. We've got a week to figure out exactly what's going on and what we have to do. Besides, I just don't see how closing the hospital will solve anything. We'll get through this.” Alex patted her hand and continued, “Just have faith. Somehow, it'll all work out." Alex hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.
"Hope so. You look better and you’re blushing. Your hot date going to meet you here?" Liz's eyes sparkled.
"And let you have a go at him? I think not. No, we're going to go to the Café Volange, in midtown. Mitch seems in a good mood, much better than he was this afternoon." Alex remembered their earlier conversation. "I think he thought I was calling to cancel our date. Not a chance. I need some fun after today. Want to share a cab?"
Elizabeth looked sheepish. "Think Martin'll pick us up? He was pretty miffed at you."
"Justifiably so. I was rude to him. He'll come. He's on retainer and besides, he really likes me. You call though, just to be safe. I have to hit the ladies room. I'll meet you outside."
As Alex caught up with Elizabeth outside the restaurant, Liz was looking dejected.
"I'm a little jealous. My fun will come in the form of whatever's on HBO tonight. I'm envious. I think Mitch is a good guy – you all make a good pair, a good match. I hope all goes well this weekend. I'll be cheering for you."
The friends smiled at each other.
"Thanks, Liz, I appreciate it. I really want this to work. Mitch means more to me than any other man I've been with since my divorce. I guess I really want to get married again soon and have children.” Alex was astonished at her words. “I can’t believe I said that. My grandmother would die if she heard me say those words. Matter of fact, I'm surprised that I said them myself," Alex shook her head. Must be the alcohol, she thought.